Yarn tension compensating device



Aug. 2, 1955 E. A. WENTZ 2,714,494

YARN TENSION COMPENSATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 25 1953 INVENTOR [WARDA,%m'z

United States Patent 2,714,4s4 YARN runsrorv corararrsnrmo nuvicn EdwardA. Wentz, Montclnir, N. 3., assignor to Specialties DevelopmentCorporation, Belleville, N. l, a corporation of New filersey ApplicationSeptember 23, 1H3, Serial No. 381,93ll 11 Claims. (*Cl. 242-455) Thepresent invention relates to yarn tension compensating devices whereinthe input tension is compensated to atttain a substantially uniformoutput tension, and, more particularly, is concerned with improvementsin such devices of the braked wheel type suitable for tensioning theyarn.

In devices of this type, the yarn passes through means for tensioningthe yarn, about a grooved wheel and through or over a guide on an armwhich, in response to tension in the yarn, controls the effectiveness ofbrake means acting on the wheel to maintain substantially uniform outputyarn tension.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to improve the brakemeans and the operating means therefor to maintain the output tensionmore uniform than has been possible with prior devices of this kind.

Another object is to provide a device of the foregoing character whichincludes means for readily and accurately adjusting the output tension.

Another object is to provide such a device which is capable of handlingwet yarn without contaminating the brake means and associated elementswhereby the accuracy thereof is maintained.

Another object is to provide an improved grooved wheel of the open typefor such devices which will not degrade the yarn.

A further object is to accomplish the foregoing in a simple, practicaland economical manner.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon anunderstanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, orWill be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages notreferred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employmentof the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes ofillustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawing,forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a yarn tension compensating devicein accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a back elevational view of the device.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line3-3 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating a detailof the brake means.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating a detailof the yarn tensioning wheel.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a yarn tension compensating deviceis shown which essentially comprises a support, base or frame 10, asleeve 11 on the support, a yarn tensioning Wheel 12 rotatably mountedon the sleeve, brake means 14 for the wheel, a member 15 coacting withthe sleeve for operating the brake means, means including a spring 16for urging the member 15 in a direction to cause the brake means to berendered effective, and a yarn tension responsive arm 17 connected tothe member 15 for decreasing the effectiveness of the brake means inresponse to an increase in yarn tension.

The support It), for the sake of economy, is in the form of astamped-out plate which comprises an upright body section 1?, ahorizontal foot or flange 20 adapted for securernent to structure forsupporting the tension compensating device, a lateral flange 21 formedwith spaced holes 22, and an offset lug 24 for supporting a conventionalyarn tensioning device 25. The body section 19 is provided with a pairof stamped-out cars 26 each having a stop or cushioning element 27secured thereto which serves to limit the extent of pivotal movement ofthe arm 17, and further is provided with spaced holes 29 (Fig. 3) and ahole 30 centrally located with respect to the holes 29. The purpose ofthese holes will be made apparent hereinafter.

The sleeve 11 is horizontally positioned on the body section of thesupport and is internally screw threaded, having about eight triple leadacme type threads 31 to the inch. One end of the sleeve is connected tothe support with its threaded bore in alignment with the hole 3d (Fig.3). As shown herein, the sleeve can be conveniently secured to thesupport by forming an annular flange 32 integral therewith having studs34 thereon which extend through the holes 29 and are peened over tosecure the flange 32 to the body section 19 of the support. The flange32 further has a fiat annular brake surface 35 adjacent the sleeve side,the function of which will be described in connection with the brakemeans. The free end of the sleeve is formed with a longitudinallyextending slot 36 at its exterior (Fig. 4).

The wheel 12 comprises a hub or body 37 having fiat annular brakesurfaces 39 and d) at the sides and a peripheral flange 41 formed withscrew holes 42, a central bearing 44 for rotatably and slidably mountingthe wheel 12 on the sleeve 11, and a pair of annular rims or flanges 45and 46 providing a yarn receiving groove 47 for the wheel which aresecured to the flange 41 by screws 49 threaded into the holes 42.

The rims are constructed and grip the yarn as it passes through butwithout chafing the yarn This is accomplished ribs or radial spokesbeing much wider in arranged to effectively the base of the groove todegrade the same. by providing the rims with alternate 5d and openings51, the openings a circumferential direction than the spokes, forexample, on an order of about three to one (Fig. 5). The radialmidpoints of the spokes of one rim face the radial midpoints of theopenings of the other rim whereby the yarn travels in a zig-zag path toprovide a grip between the yarn and the rims Without unduly pinching theyarn.

The yarn tensioning wheel just described is particularly adapted for usein connection with yarn which is tensioned while wet. For example, inthe treatment of yarns such as tire cord, the yarn is first passedthrough a bath of a yarn impregnating composition or the like and isthen stretched prior to passing the same through a drying oven. Thus,any moisture, which is squeezed from the yarn in passing through theWheel groove 47, can drain through the openings 51.

in order to prevent such moisture from contaminating the brake surfaces,the brake means and the brake operating means, a shield is associatedwith the wheel. As shown herein, this shield comprises two generallycylindrical sections 52 and 53, each having a radially inwardly facingannular flange 54- at one end (Fig. 3) and each having a radiallyoutwardly extending lip 56 at the other end for preventing liquid fromflowing beyond the side edges of the shield. The shield section 52terminates adjacent the support body 19, and the shield section 53extends outwardly beyond the brake means elements. These shield sectionscan be conveniently mounted on the wheel by placing the inner zones ofthe rims 45 and 46 between the flanges 54 and utilizing the screws 49 tosecure both the rims and the shield sections to the flange 41 of thewheel.

The. brake means 14 include a disc 57 slidably mounted on the sleeve 11and held against rotation with respect to the sleeve by a pin 58 (Fig.4) slidably positioned in the slot 36 of the sleeve. The disc has abrake surface 59 on one side which faces the wheel brake surface 4i),and is adapted to be engaged at the other side by the brake operatingmeans as about to be described. In order to provide for more effectivebraking action, a friction washer 60 is positioned between the brakesurfaces 35 and 39 and a friction washer 61 is positioned between thebrake surfaces 41) and 59.

The brake operating means include the member 15 already referred to, ahead 6d carried by this member at one end thereof containing a thrustbearing 65, and a spring washer 66 adapted to be pressed against thebrake disc 57 by this head. The member 15 is externally threaded toprovide screw threads 31:; thereon which cooperate with the sleevethreads 31 to move the head 64 axially with respect to the sleeve tovary the pressure applied on the spring washer and the resulting brakingforce applied on the wheel 12.

The end of the member 15 opposite the head 64 extends outwardly throughthe back end of the sleeve 11 and the support body hole 34 and has aclamp 67 secured thereto which serves to connect the arm 17 to themember 15. If desired, the arm 17 may have a section 69 extendingdownwardly through the clamp or this arm section may be a separateelement secured to the clamp (Fig. 2). The spring 16 has one endconnected to this lower arm section by a link 76 and has its other endconnected to the flange 21 by means of the holes 22, whereby the springis connected to the member 15 in a manner to urge this member in adirection to cause the brake means to be rendered effective. The upperend of the arm 17 has a conventional yarn guide 71 thereon for causingthe arm to respond to tension in the yarn and thereby decrease theeffectiveness of the brake means in response to an increase in yarntension.

In order to adjust the effectiveness of the spr1ng 16, the link 70 whichsupports one end thereof is adjustably positioned on the arm section 69by nuts 72 threadedly secured to this arm section and/ or by connectingthe other end of the spring to different holes 22. In this manner, thespring can be tensioned to apply a predetermined force on the armsection. Coarse adjustment is accomplished by selection of the holes 22,whereas fine ad ustment is accomplished by positioning of the link 7 i).

in operation, the yarn Y is threaded through the ten sion device 25, ispassed under the wheel 12 in the groove 47, and is passed over the yarnguide 71 (Fig. l). The yarn leaving the guide is then attached to atension measuring device such as a spring scale and is pulled to movethe arm 17 into a position between the stops 27 (Fig. 3). The spring 16is then adjusted to cause the scale to register the desired outputtension to which the yarn is to be subjected. Usually, such tension ison the order of several pounds, the device in accordance with thisinvention being of the high tension type adapted to subjectthe yarn to atension of between about one to seven pounds. The tensioned yarn iseventually led to a winder, whereby, in the course of winding the yarn,any changes in the output tension are compensated.

If the output tension increases, the arm 17 is rocked clockwise (asviewed in Fig. l) in opposition to the spring 16 causing the member 15to rotate in the sleeve 11 and move its head 64 to the left (as viewedin Fig. 3) whereby pressure on the brake disc 57 is relieved. Thispermits the wheel 12 to rotate more freely and causes less brakingtension to be applied to the yarn. If the output tension decreases, thearm 17 is rocked counterclockwise (as viewed in Fig. 1) under theinfluence of the spring 16 causing the member 15 to rotate in the sleeve11 and move its head 64 to the right (as viewed in Fig. 3) wherebypressure on the brake disc 57 is increased. This causes the wheel 12 torotate less freely and causes greater braking tension to be applied tothe yarn.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the presentinvention provides an improved tension compensating device of thebraking tension type which is i simple and practical in construction,reliable in operation and is particularly adapted for handling Wet yarn.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangementof the parts herein, Without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention and 1;; without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to beunderstood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrativeand not in any limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A yarn tension compensating device comprising a support, aninternally screw threaded sleeve connected to said support, a groovedwheel rotatably mounted on said sleeve having a brake surface at oneside thereof, brake means in frictional contact with said surface, anexternally screw threaded member having means at one end for operatingsaid brake means, said member being threaded through said sleeve andcooperating therewith to vary the efiectiveness of said bralte means,spring means on said support for urging said member in a direction tocause said brake means to be rendered ef- LJ fcctive, and a yarn tensionresponsive arm connected to said member for decreasing the effectivenessof said brrke means in response to an increase in yarn tension.

2. A yarn tension compensating device comprising a support including aninternally screw threaded sleeve nd a flat annular surface adjacent saidsleeve, a grooved wheel rotatably and slidably mounted on saidsleevehaving a brake surface at one side thereof and a fiat surface atthe opposite side adjacent said annular surface, a friction washerbetween said flat surfaces, brake means 5,9 in frictional contact withsaid brake surface, an externally screw threaded member having means atone end for operating said brake means, said member being threadedthrough said sleeve and cooperating therewith to vary the efiectivenessof said brake means, spring means on said support for urging said memberin a direction to cause said brake means to be rendered effective, and ayarn tension responsive arm connected to said member for decreasing theeffectiveness of said brake means in response to an increase in yarntension.

3. A yarn tension compensating device comprising a support, aninternally screw threaded sleeve connected to said support, a groovedwheel rotatably mounted on said sleeve having a brake surface at oneside thereof, bralte means in frictional contact with said surfaceincluding a yieldable element, an externally screw threaded memberhaving means at one end for operating said brake means, said memberbeing threaded through said sleeve and cooperating therewith to vary theeffectiveness of said brake means, spring means on said support forurging said member in a direction to cause said brake means to berendered effective, and a yarn tension responsive arm connected to saidmember for decreasing the effectiveness of said brake means in responseto an increase in yarn tension.

- 4. A yarn tension compensating device comprising a support; aninternally screw threaded sleeve connected to said support; a groovedwheel rotatably mounted on said sleeve having a brake surface at oneside thereof; brake means including a disc on said sleeve having surfacemeans in frictional contact with said surface and including a springwasher on said sleeve in contact with said disc; an externally screwthreaded member having a head at one end engaging said spring washer tooperate said brake means, said member being threaded through said sleeveand cooperating therewith to vary the effectiveness of said brake means;spring means on said support for urging said member in a direction tocause said brake means to be rendered effective; and a yarn tensionresponsive arm connected to said member for decreasing the effectivenessof said brake means in response to an increase in yarn tension.

5. A yarn tension compensating device comprising a support; aninternally screw threaded sleeve having one end connected to saidsupport and having a lengthwise extending groove on its outer surfaceadjacent the opposite end; a grooved wheel rotatably and slidablymounted on said sleeve having a brake surface at one side thereof; meansfor limiting sliding movement of said wheel toward the connected end ofsaid sleeve; brake means including a disc slidably mounted on saidsleeve, a friction washer on said sleeve in frictional contact with saidsurface and one side of said disc, a spring washer on said sleeve incontact with the other side of said disc, and a member on said discslidably disposed in said groove of said sleeve to prevent rotation ofsaid disc with respect to said sleeve; an externally screw threadedmember having a head at one end for engaging said spring washer tooperate said brake means, said member being threaded through said sleeveand cooperating therewith to vary the effectiveness of said brake means;spring means on said support for urging said member in a direction tocause said brake means to be rendered effective; and a yarn tensionresponsive arm connected to said member for decreasing the eifectivenessof said brake means in response to an increase in yarn tension.

6. A yarn tension compensating device comprising a support, aninternally screw threaded sleeve connected to said support, a groovedwheel rotatably mounted on said sleeve having a brake surface at oneside thereof, brake means in frictional contact with said surface, anexternally screw threaded member having means at one end for operatingsaid brake means, said member being threaded through said sleeve andcooperating therewith to vary the effectiveness of said brake means, anarm connected to said member having a threaded section, a yarn tensionresponsive arm connected to said member for decreasing the eifectivenessof said brake means in response to an increase in yarn tension, atension spring having one end connected to said support, and means onsaid first mentioned arm for connecting the other end of said springthereto to urge said member in a direction to cause said brake means tobe rendered ineffective, said spring connecting means being threadedlysecured to said threaded arm section to vary the position thereof andthereby adjust the tension of said spring.

7. A yarn tension compensating device comprising a support, a groovedwheel rotatably mounted on said support, brake means for said wheeladjacent the axis of rotation of said wheel, means for varying theeffectiveness of said brake means including a yarn tension responsivearm, and a cylindrical shell on said wheel concentric with the axis ofrotation of said wheel and disposed between said brake means and thegroove of said wheel and surrounding said brake means wardly thereof.

8. A yarn tension compensating device comprising a support, a groovedwheel rotatably mounted on said support, brake means for said wheelincluding a disc and a spring washer extending about the axis ofrotation of said wheel at one side of said wheel, means for varying theeffectiveness of said brake means including a disc operating head and ayarn tension responsive arm, and a cylindrical shell on said wheelconcentric with the axis of rotation or said wheel and disposed betweensaid brake means and the groove of the wheel and extending axiallyoutwardly from said wheel beyond said brake means to surround saiddiscs, said spring washer and said head.

9. A yarn tension compensating device comprising a support, a wheelrotatably mounted on said support, said wheel having a pair ofperipheral flanges providing a groove, said flanges being formed withcircumferentially spaced openings, brake means for said wheel adjacentthe axis of rotation of said wheel, means for varying the effectivenessof said brake means including a yarn tension responsive arm, and acylindrical shell on said wheel concentric with the axis of rotation ofsaid wheel and disposed between said brake means and the openings ofsaid wheel flanges and surrounding said brake means and extendingaxially outwardly thereof.

10. A Wheel for a yarn tension compensating device of the classdescribed, said wheel comprising a hub having a peripheral flange, rimmeans having openings therein and providing a yarn receiving groove, agenerally cylindrical shield section concentric with said hub andextending laterally therefrom, and common means for securing said rimmeans and said shield section to said flange.

11. A wheel for a yarn tension compensating device of the classdescribed, said wheel comprising a hub having a peripheral flange, apair of annular rims having openings therein and providing a yarnreceiving groove, a generally cylindrical shield section having aradially inwardly extending flange at one end thereof adjacent one sideof said peripheral flange and having a radially outwardly projecting lipadjacent the other end thereof, a second generally cylindrical shieldsection having a radially inwardly extending flange at one end thereofconcentric with said first shield section flange and having a radiallyoutwardly projecting lip adjacent the other end thereof, said rimshaving an inner annular zone positioned between said shield sectionflanges, and common means for securing said rims and said shield sectionflanges to said peripheral hub flange.

and extending axially out- References Cited in the file of this patentUNITED STATES PATENTS 93,459 Macaulay Aug. 10, 1869 651,219 WardwellJune 5, 1900 686,013 Webster Nov. 5, 1901 1,632,876 Bouvier June 21,1927 2,642,236 Heizer June 16, 1953

